U.S. patent application number 10/915243 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for soil conditioner.
Invention is credited to Alan Meyer.
Application Number | 20060032281 10/915243 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35798715 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060032281 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meyer; Alan |
February 16, 2006 |
Soil conditioner
Abstract
A soil conditioner has been developed that includes a bacterial
culture endogenous to plants that includes nitrogen present from
0.20 weight percent per volume, 30 to 250 milligrams per liter
phosphorus and 400 to 20,000 milligrams per liter of potassium. The
soil conditioner stimulates earthworm population growth and
activity in a treated soil. The soil conditioner also has
applications as a livestock nutrient supplement and as a degradant
for oil spills. A process for preparing a soil conditioner involves
composting a manure with at least one plant fermentation inoculant
to yield a composted mixture. The composted mixture is then
fermented in combination with a nitrogenous protein source and
seaweed.
Inventors: |
Meyer; Alan; (Brisbane,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, GROH, SPRINKLE & CITKOWSKI, P.C
PO BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Family ID: |
35798715 |
Appl. No.: |
10/915243 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
71/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 30/40 20150501;
C05F 17/20 20200101; Y02W 30/43 20150501; Y02P 20/145 20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
071/006 |
International
Class: |
C05F 11/08 20060101
C05F011/08 |
Claims
1. A soil conditioner comprising: a bacterial culture having more
than 0.20 weight percent per volume nitrogen, from 30 to 250
milligrams per liter phosphorus and from 400 to 20,000 milligrams
per liter potassium.
2. The soil conditioner of claim 1 wherein the pH is between 7.5
and 9.5.
3. The soil conditioner of claim 1 further comprising beta
carotene.
4. The soil conditioner of claim 1 further comprising omega fatty
acids.
5. The soil conditioner of claim 1 further comprising trace
minerals.
6. The soil conditioner of claim 1 wherein said bacterial culture
is diazotroph.
7. The soil conditioner of claim 1 wherein the phosphorus content
is between 200 and 250 milligrams per liter.
8. A process for preparing a soil conditioner comprising the steps
of: composting a manure with at least one plant inoculant to yield
a composted mixture; and fermenting said composted mixture in
combination with a nitrogenous protein source and seaweed.
9. The process of claim 8 wherein said manure is selected from the
group consisting of: human, cow, pig, sheep, fowl, mushroom
compost, and combinations thereof.
10. The process of claim 8 wherein said manure is certified
organic.
11. The process of claim 8 wherein said at least one plant
inoculant is selected from the group consisting of: yarrow,
dandelion, valerian, and combinations thereof.
12. The process of claim 11 wherein said at least one plant
inoculant comprises yarrow blossoms, chamomile blossoms, whole
plant in full bloom of stinging nettle, oak bark, dandelion flower
and valerian flower.
13. The process of claim 8 wherein composting occurs for a time
ranging from 2 weeks to 52 weeks.
14. The process of claim 8 wherein composting occurs at a
temperature between 10 and 70 degrees Celsius.
15. The process of claim 8 wherein composting occurs with
agitation.
16. The process of claim 8 further comprising a desiccant present
during composting.
17. The process of claim 16 wherein said desiccant is selected from
the group consisting of: zeolites; anhydrous or partially hydrated
salts, such as calcium chloride; and calcium sulfate.
18. The process of claim 8 wherein the weight ratio of said
manure:water:said at least one plant fermentation inoculant is
100-1000:1.
19. The process of claim 8 wherein said nitrogenous protein source
is selected from the group consisting of: fish emulsion, offal,
meat-trailings, -renderings, and combinations thereof.
20. The process of claim 8 wherein said nitrogenous protein source
is certified organic.
21. The process of claim 8 further comprising rock dust present
during fermenting.
22. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of adding a
second dose of said at least one plant inoculant prior to or during
fermenting.
23. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of adding a
plant bacterial culture prior to or during fermenting.
24. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of: adding
algae prior to or during fermenting.
25. The process of claim 24 wherein said algae is an orange
algae.
26. The process of claim 8 wherein fermenting occurs for a period
of from 2 weeks to 52 weeks.
27. The process of claim 8 wherein fermenting occurs at a
temperature from 10 to 40 degrees Celsius.
28. The process of claim 8 wherein fermenting occurs with
agitation.
29. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of pH
balancing the soil conditioner after fermenting.
30. The use of a soil conditioner according to claim 1 as a
livestock nutritional supplement.
31. The use of the soil conditioner according to claim 1 as an oil
spill degradant.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention in general relates to a process for
producing a soil conditioner and the resulting composition, and in
particular to a fermented soil conditioner containing robust
microbial flora.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The fertilization of plants is as old as human civilization.
The notion of supplementing soil with bioavailable nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium and minerals to stimulate robust plant growth
is well known. As a result, plants have been fertilized with
manures, vegetive composts, seaweed, fish and animal byproducts,
and synthetic fertilizer compositions. While all these approaches
have met with a degree of success, there is a growing appreciation
that improved plant growth and management of soil nutrients is
obtained by promoting a vibrant soil ecosystem in the vicinity of
plants. A thriving soil ecosystem promotes the breakdown of complex
substances into a form in which the nutrients contained therein are
available to the plant. Additionally, the soil ecosystem through
metabolism tends to meter nutrients to the plant at a rate that
promotes better plant growth, as compared to soil dosing with water
soluble nutrients.
[0003] Manure and other waste products have become ineffective
fertilizers in the modern world owing to contaminating surfactants,
antibiotics and other byproducts of modern society. These
contaminants not only slow breakdown but also challenge the
existence of the organisms making up the soil ecosystem. Thus,
there exists a need for a soil conditioner that either introduces
more hardy organisms into the soil ecosystem and/or provides
nutrients to stimulate existing soil organisms such as bacteria,
fungi and roundworms that in turn generate nutrients accessible to
plants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A soil conditioner has been developed that includes a
bacterial culture endogenous to plants that includes nitrogen
present from 0.20 weight percent per volume, from 30 to 250
milligrams per liter phosphorus and from 400 to 20,000 milligrams
per liter of potassium. The soil conditioner stimulates earthworm
population growth and activity in a treated soil. The soil
conditioner also has applications as a livestock nutrient
supplement and as a degradant for oil spills and other remediation
applications. A process for preparing a soil conditioner involves
composting a manure with at least one plant fermentation inoculant
to yield a composted mixture. The composted mixture is then
fermented in combination with a nitrogenous protein source and
seaweed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating a process by which an
inventive soil conditioner is produced.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0006] The present invention has utility as a process for, and the
composition of, a substance enhancing the ability of a soil to
support plant growth. According to the present invention, a manure
is first composted in the presence of a composting inoculant
derived from living plants. A protein and nitrogen rich material is
added to the composted mixture along with seaweed. Thereafter,
fermentation yields a nutrient-rich liquid that stimulates plant
growth in a soil treated with the resulting composition. The
inventive composition also is operative as a livestock nutrient
supplement or an oil spill degradant and other remediation
applications.
[0007] Referring now to FIG. 1, a process by which an inventive
composition is produced is shown in schematic form. A reactor is
initially loaded with manure and a plant derived microbial
inoculant 10. A manure operative herein illustratively includes
that from human, cow, pig, sheep, fowl, mushroom compost, and
combinations thereof. Preferably, the manure is certified organic.
The plant derived composting inoculant includes bacteria and fungi
that naturally populate the plant chosen as an inoculant. A
composting inoculant is readily derived from various plant portions
or a plant as a whole and includes buds, leaves, flowers, bark,
roots and combinations thereof. It is also appreciated that the
bacterial and fungal population colonizing a plant varies
throughout the day and seasonally. A composting inoculant is
illustratively derived from a plant or portion thereof
illustratively including yarrow, oak, nettle, thistle, dandelion,
valerian, equisetum, chamomile, comfrey or combinations thereof.
Preferably, the plant that serves as the inoculant is grown under
climatic stress and/or nutrient-poor soil. The manure-inoculant is
allowed to compost with optional agitation and/or desiccant for 2
to 52 weeks. The compost mixture initially heats up to about 65 to
70 degrees Celsius before cooling to a static temperature of
between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, depending on the external
temperature and the biological activity of the mixture.
Alternatively, the manure-inoculant is composted through processing
in a worm farm for a time of between 2 weeks and 2 years.
[0008] It is appreciated that uniform composting throughout the
volume is promoted by mixture agitation. The mode of agitation is
recognized to be dependent upon the compost mixture volume with
mechanical mixing, and reactor inversion being illustrative
examples of mixing methodologies. By way of example, a 1,000 liter
composting mixture within a batch reactor is well agitated by
rotating a mechanical tumbler at a speed of 15 revolutions per
minute. The composting proceeds for a period of 2 weeks to 52 weeks
to facilitate metabolic breakdown of the manure. Preferably,
fermentation lasts from 1 to 3 months with composting temperature,
manure characteristics and composting inoculant being among the
most important variables in composting duration.
[0009] Following the initial composting 20, a quantity of aquatic
plant material and nitrogenous protein is added with optional rock
dust 30. Typically, the aquatic vegetation is added in an amount
from 10 percent to 200 weight percent that of the manure. More
preferably, the aquatic vegetation is present from 10 percent to 40
percent by weight that of the manure. Still more preferably, the
aquatic vegetation is present from 15 to 25 weight percent that of
the manure. The aquatic vegetation serves as a source of minerals
and plant hormones to the fermentation mixture and illustratively
includes kelp, seaweed, sea grasses and algae. Kelp is the
preferred aquatic vegetation. Optionally, in instances where soil
enrichment with beta carotene is desired, an orange-colored algae
such as Dunalea Selena is introduced in amounts from 0.1 to 10
percent of the original manure weight added.
[0010] The animal protein is a nitrogenous protein source and
illustratively includes fish emulsion, offal, meat-trailings,
-renderings and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment,
the nitrogenous protein source is certified organic to preclude the
addition of contaminants detrimental to fermentation flora growth.
The nitrogenous protein is typically present from 50 percent to 800
weight percent that of the original manure added. Preferably, the
nitrogenous protein is present from 120 percent to 300 percent by
weight that of the manure originally added. Optionally, rock dust
or other inorganic mineral sources are added to further condition
soil. Rock dust operative herein illustratively includes limestone
and volcanic rock. Preferably, the rock dust is volcanic.
[0011] Optionally, the fermentation stage occurs in the presence of
an additional dose of plant material serving as a fermentation
inoculant.
[0012] Preferably, the fermentation inoculant if introduced prior
to the fermentation stage includes plant and vegetable based
organic cultured bacteria 40. The plant and vegetable based
cultured bacteria illustratively including annuals and perennials.
It is appreciated that an additional quantity of water is readily
added prior to or during the second stage of fermentation in order
to facilitate viscosity control and agitation. Agitation and
fermentation temperature conditions operative in the second
fermentation stage are those detailed above with respect to the
composting stage.
[0013] The supernate following the fermentation is then bottled for
delivery to a site of application to soil 50. The supernate is
composed of suspended bacteria, bacterial spores, fungal spores
and/or yeasts. The fermentation supernate is characterized by
having a free nitrogen content of less than 0.26 weight percent per
total volume, a phosphorus content of between 30 and 250 milligrams
per liter, and a potassium content of between 400 and 20,000
milligrams per liter. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of
an inventive soil conditioner is summarized in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Constituent Typical Preferred Nitrogen %
wt/vol 0.1-3% 0.1-0.4% Phosphorus mg/L 30-1,000 mg/L 50-500 mg/L
Potassium mg/L 1,000-20,000 mg/L 3,000-15,000 mg/L
[0014] While the present invention is detailed herein with respect
to batch fermentation, it is appreciated that the inventive process
is readily performed in a continuous flow reactor.
[0015] The present invention is further illustrated with reference
to the following non-limiting examples. These examples are not
intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
EXAMPLE 1
[0016] 750 kilograms of organic cow manure is mixed within a vat
type batch reactor equipped with a mechanical tumbler. A plant
inoculant is introduced that includes 30 grams of yarrow blossoms,
30 grams of chamomile blossoms, 30 grams of stinging nettle whole
plant in full bloom, 30 grams of oak bark, 30 grams of dandelion
flowers, and 30 grams of valerian flowers. The resulting mixture is
stirred at 15 revolutions per minute on average to maintain
homogeneity of the mixture. The mixture is allowed to compost for 2
months at 28 degrees Celsius.
[0017] After 2 months 2,400 kilograms of certified organic fish
emulsion, 240 kilograms kelp and 5 kilograms of rock dust is added
to the now fermented mixture. 150 liters of plant based diazotroph
bacterial culture is then added in addition to 30 grams yarrow
blossoms, 30 grams chamomile blossoms, 30 grams stinging nettle
whole plant in full bloom, 30 grams oak bark, 30 grams dandelion
flowers, and 30 grams valerian flowers. 11,600 liters of filtered
magnetized water is added and allowed to ferment for 2-52 weeks at
28 degrees Celsius with agitation and/or air bubblers. The
resulting supernate is pH balanced to a pH of 8.+-.1.5 and bottled.
The resulting supernate contains 0.26 weight percent per volume
nitrogen, 230 milligrams per liter phosphorus and 7,418 milligrams
per liter potassium.
EXAMPLE 2
[0018] The process of Example 1 was repeated with the addition of
1,000 grams of Dunalea Selena algae in concert with the bacterial
culture. The resulting supernate after fermentation had similar
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to the supernate of Example 1 as
well as 500,000 milligrams per liter beta carotene.
EXAMPLE 3
[0019] A comparison of the ability of an inventive soil conditioner
to simulate plant growth was undertaken relative to comparative
product, Jungle Juice.TM. (AGM Foods, Queensland, Australia). Three
tomato plants are grown in identically prepared plots with each
plant being at the center of a 1 meter square grid square. Each of
the compositions is applied according to use instructions with the
inventive composition of Example 1 being applied in a quantity
equal to that of Jungle Juice.TM.. The compositions are applied 2
weeks after germination in a single dosage. Twelve weeks later, the
plants are harvested and weighed. The plant mass is then
normalized. The results are summarized in Table 2. TABLE-US-00002
TABLE 2 Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Normalized % wt/vol mg/L mg/L
Plant Mass Example 1 0.26 220 7418 1.0 Jungle Juice 0.06 284 4967
0.52
[0020] Any patents or publications mentioned in the specification
are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which
the invention pertains. These patents and publications are herein
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual
patent or publication was specifically and individually indicated
to be incorporated by reference.
[0021] The foregoing description is illustrative of particular
embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation
upon the practice thereof. Modifications that remain within the
spirit of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art
upon reading the specification; these modifications and equivalents
thereof are intended to be encompassed within the appended
claims.
* * * * *